About GLS Consulting

Offices in Stellenbosch

The Company

GLS Consulting (Pty) Ltd is a firm of consulting civil engineers specializing in the analysis, planning and management of water-related systems.

The company was formed in 1989 by the directors Dr LC Geustyn, Dr BF Loubser and Mr JJ Streicher. The current board of directors include the founders and Dr AN Sinske, Ms KF Fair and Mr JK Compion. The total staff comprises 40 people.

Based in Techno Park, Stellenbosch, GLS Consulting has established close working relationships with other specialists nationwide and internationally in order to provide a comprehensive and expert service.

Expertise and Experience

GLS Consulting provides an extensive specialist service related to the optimal analysis, planning and management of water distribution and sewer reticulation systems.

The company offers clients such as municipalities or bulk service providers a high level of expertise and experience. This is supported by the latest technological developments and the direct involvement of the firm's personnel at all levels, notably in the use of appropriate cutting-edge technology software developed by associated companies GLS Software and IMQS.

Computerization, optimization and master planning are the basis of the GLS Consulting service. A strong emphasis is placed on the importance of a scientifically devised master plan to ensure that all communities can be supplied with services that meet acceptable standards. An optimally established master plan is also absolutely crucial in ensuring that the demands of a tight budget are met.

Apart from this specialization, GLS Consulting also provides expertise and experience in related areas of engineering such as pipeline replacement prioritization based on risk analysis and evaluation of component criticality, utilization and performance for the purposes of asset management.

The programs and systems in use by the company have been developed and extended by GLS Consulting and its associated companies and are being applied with success in practice. GLS Consulting places a high value on the continued personal involvement of the individuals who develop programs and systems in the execution of all projects.

A successful track record

GLS Consulting is at the pinnacle of the specialised field of water-related system engineering primarily because of the company's steadfast commitment to provide an expert and comprehensive service incorporating computerization, optimization and master planning. Existing users are now strategically placed and ready to participate fully in the urban improvement programs as a result of the work done by GLS Consulting.

Planning, analysis and management of water distribution and sewerage systems

The principles applied to the service offered by GLS are: to establish optimum operation procedures, as well as to do long-term planning for a system using high quality computer modelling, simulation and reporting techniques.

Procedures followed in this application include:

Survey of existing system 'as-is'.
Establishment of a computer database for the water distribution or sewer network which is compatible with CAD or GIS application software.
Compilation and calibration of a computer model with which the system operation can be simulated in steady state or extended time simulation mode.
Analysis, evaluation and recommendation of measures and rules for the optimal operation of the existing system.
Analysis of non-revenue-water, assistance in the identification and location of losses and identification of water demand management measures.
Analysis of leakage, infiltration and storm water ingress into the sewer system.
Analysis of the effect on revenue of proposed tariff categories and scales.
Assistance with decision-making during system operation.
Analysis of the effect of extensions to the existing system.
Establishment of a long-term master plan for extensions to the system, with optimal financial and strategic implementations, based on future planning scenarios.
Compilation and operation of decision models for the optimal utilization of funds in the rehabilitation or replacement of system components.
Training of management and operational personnel in the application of programs and systems/models at the client's convenience in the own offices or in the GLS Consulting offices.

Result and advantages of using computer models to perform master planning

The most prominent results and advantages of computerization, optimization and master planning of a system are:

Important information about the system is contained in one single computerized database. This also forms the basis for asset registers and asset management plans.
The effect of emergencies or extensions to the system can easily and quickly be tested with the computer model, which makes day-to-day management much easier.
Annual budgeting for system extensions and replacements can be based on the cost estimates of each stage of the master plan.
Costs contributions by large scale users are based on the master plan in a scientific manner.
Organized master planning prevents ad hoc planning and ensures optimal use of finances.
Incurring a relatively low expense once results in future savings on planning costs and capital expenditure.
Experience has shown that optimizing of systems saves an average of twenty to thirty percent on project costs compared to capital works that have been planned according to past methods.

The GLS Technology

GLS Consulting use custom software developed by GLS Software. This includes the Wadiso®, Sewsan® and Swift range of engineering software packages. In addition, the state of the art municipal management viewer software IMQS from the IMQS Software company is fully utilized to produce digital reports in spatial, graphical and tabular format for the municipal infrastructure manager.

Wadiso (Water Distribution and System Optimization)

Wadiso is a comprehensive computer program used for the analysis and optimal design of water distribution networks. The program integrates steady state analysis, extended time simulation, water quality analysis and network cost optimization within a graphical CAD/GIS-based environment into a single valuable tool for water engineers.

Features of the program include:

It enables engineers to quickly determine pressure and flow rates in water distribution system and graphically visualize the system layout and analysis results.
It is a modelling tool which allows simulation of system performance inclusive of water quality over time periods and under various emergency or critical conditions.
It is an expert system, which permits system design for minimum cost, including capital investment for pipes and tanks as well as recurring cost for pumping energy.
Detailed plan books can be generated from the model.
It integrates with IMQS management information viewer.

Wadiso is continually being further developed and maintained in South Africa by GLS Software for a local and international client base. The engineers of GLS Consulting are well familiar with local and international requirements and are personally involved in projects from their inception to completion using the software.

For more information on the software product see the Wadiso website.

Sewsan (Sewer System Analysis)

Sewsan is a comprehensive computer program used for the analysis and optimal design of sewer networks. The program integrates analysis and design within a powerful graphical CAD/GIS-based environment into a single valuable tool for water services engineers. The methodology used in the program is based on the contributor hydrograph technique to simulate and analyse sewer systems. The methodology allows a 24 hour sewer flow hydrograph to be input for each pipe in the system. The different hydrographs are then routed downstream to the discharge point or treatment plant.

Features of the program include:

Effect of water infiltration, storm water ingress and leakage of the water distribution system can be considered.
Peaks in the flow are attenuated due to the fact that peak flows from different sources arrive out of phase at the same point.
Bottlenecks are identified by the program and optimal remedial measures can be planned.
The computer model can be calibrated against measured real hydrographs.
Detailed plan books can be generated from the model.
It integrates with IMQS management information viewer.

Sewsan is continually being further developed and maintained in South Africa by GLS Software for a local and international client base. The engineers of GLS Consulting are well familiar with local and international requirements and are personally involved in projects from their inception to completion using the software.

For more information on the software product see the Sewsan website.

Swift (Sewsan and Wadiso Interface to Treasury)

Swift is a computer program that performs statistical analyses of data in consumer linked meter reading s databases, such as typically found in treasury or billing systems of water service providers. Apart from valuable information pertaining to consumption patterns and trends it provides a link between actual consumption and locations in the sewer and water system simulation models, thus ensuring accurate population of demands and flows in the models.

Features of the program include:

Calculation of each consumer's water demand from meter reading records.
Identification of faulty meter readings.
Assisting in water demand management and water audits.
Performing of non-revenue-water calculations.
Calculation of water tariffs.
Population of Wadiso water demand and Sewsan sewer flow scenarios.
Production of large user report.
Providing for GIS cross referencing for spatial queries in GIS.
Integration with IMQS management information viewer.

Swift is continually being further developed and maintained in South Africa by GLS Software for a local and international client base. The engineers of GLS Consulting are well familiar with local and international requirements and are personally involved in projects from their inception to completion using the software.

For more information on the software product see the Swift website.

IMQS (Infrastructure Management Query System)

IMQS Software is a proudly South African product which was established in the late 90s by two of South Africa's leading Civil Engineering firms which includes GLS Consulting. By supplying market leading integrated infrastructure asset management reporting software to municipal customers, infrastructure managers have a better knowledge of the integrated nature of their asset master planning, asset maintenance planning, asset condition and useful life, as well as better control over their budgets and priorities. As a result, investment capital is being better utilised and the infrastructure is improving as a whole. IMQS is constantly evolving utilising the latest available technologies in collaboration with our vast client base.

First Generation IMQS (1990-2007) - Desktop reporting and querying application in report, graphs and GIS type maps format to view and query master planning results of sector specialist engineering consultants.

Second Generation IMQS (2007-2009) - IMQS evolved to accommodate financial compliance requirements (GAMAP and GRAP) as set by the Auditor-General by including full transactional valuation and financial asset registers down to component-level, thereby bridging the gap between finance and engineering.

New Generation IMQS (2009 to beyond) - Enterprise solution with advanced real-time editing, planning, simulation and transactional functionality which accommodates concurrent users and audit trails. The extended version can be deployed and accessed in different configurations including a standalone desktop solution, in a server-based environment and via a web browser. Extended functionality now allows system administrators and users to control user access and rights as well as secure data updating by making use of infrastructure servers. The end result is a more flexible, interactive, real-time and robust solution.

For more information on the software product see the IMQS website.

GLS success and flexibility

GLS Consulting has a history of success in servicing a variety of clients with individual water engineering needs. A full client list is available on request.

The company offers an adaptable service suited to each client's unique needs. Clients can makes use of the GLS Consulting service without buying the GLS computer models, or alternatively, the computer models can be used on their own without GLS consultation if preferred. GLS Consulting also works in association with other consulting engineers on projects if required.